Course Details for A.Y. 2017/2018

The information on this page refer to the academic year 2017/2018. Therefore, several links are not available and data may be incomplete. To read the current information on the course, if it is still available, go to the university course catalogue . To read information relating other academic years, use the list at the bottom of this page.

A. Year:

2017/2018

Name:

Modelli e Algoritmi per la Finanza Aziendale mod II / Modelli e Algoritmi per la Finanza Aziendale mod II

Type:

Course

Basic information

Code:

Sector:

SECS-P09

Credits:

: Master Degree in Mathematics 6 CFU (c)

Term:

2^nd semester

Degree(s):

Language:

Italian

Teacher(s):

Giuseppe Alesii

Course Objectives

Introduction to Martingale Pricing of options contracts. Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulation and to binomial and trinomial discretization of some stochastic processes used to price derivatives. A short introduction to Least Squares Monte Carlo. A short introduction to real options.

Course Content

Introduction to derivative securities: options (a) payoff diagrams (b) position diagrams (c) put call parity (d) composite positions: i. spread; ii. combination; iii. hedge.
An hands on introduction to stochastic processes most used in derivatives valuation modelling: (a) time series modelling: additive shocks, multiplicative shocks. i. MA(1), AR(1) representations ii. from sufficient statistics of a normal distribution to those of the corresponding log normal; (b) Wiener process as a limit case of a random walk (c) Ito process as a generalization of a Wiener process (d) Geometric Brownian Motion: i. univariate GBM; A. Ito's lemma application: log transform process parameters derivation, Arithmetic Brownian Motion B. Monte Carlo simulation of Pde solution and of its Euler approximation C. parameters empirical estimate; D. binomial approximation through moment matching conditions: Cox, Ross, Rubinstein 1979 E. Brownian Bridge, concept and Monte Carlo Simulation; ii. multivariate GBM with correlated Wiener Processes: A. construction and simulation of a multivariate GBM with correlated Wienere processes; B. bivariate case: analytic (Cholesky) transformation of two uncorrelated shocks into two correlated ones; C. general case: Choleski decomposition of a correlogram; D. parametric Monte Carlo study of the estimates of correlation between two time series generated by correlated GBMs. E. Boyle, Evnine, Gibbs 1989, multivariate binomial model: bivariate case programmed in Aptech Gauss; (e) Ornstein Uhlenbeck: i. original version with arithmetic shocks; ii. Ito's lemma application: derivation of Schwartz 1997 version, geometric with spring effects on logarithms; iii. OU process parameters estimates; iv. Monte Carlo simulation of processes sub i. and ii. v. Binomiale approximation Sick 1995 (f) volatility estimate for univariate processes: i. inverting Black e Scholes 1973 and deriving a volatility surface ii. equally weighted estimates; iii. ARCH(m); iv. EWMA: exponentially weighted moving average; v. GARCH(1,1): A. volatility clustering detection; B. leverage effect detection; C. plain vanilla GARCH(1,1) D. GARCH(1,1) as a discrete time counterpart of an Orn- stein Uhlenbeck process; E. I-GARCH vi. review of some models that accomodate volatility leverage: A. A-GARCH; B. E-GARCH; C. GRJ-GARCH; D. NL-GARCH; E. Smooth Transition GARCH; F. Markov Switching GARCH; vii. GARCH(1,1) estimation: A. MLE methods in general; B. MLE methods for GARCH(1,1) numerical examples on Excel: 3 parameters estimation; 2 parameters estimation variance targeting; MLE estimate of EWMA; tness tests: Box Pierce, Ljung Box, autocorrelogram viii. Use of GARCH() models to forecast volatility: A. GARCH volatility term structure; B. GARCH average volatility. ix. GARCH models and Options Pricing: A. local risk neutrality, Duan 1995; B. numerical example: Monte Carlo simulation of a GBM with stochastic volatilty generated by a GARCH(1,1) (g) Variance covariance matrix estimation for multivariate processes: i. equally weighted estimates of covariances; ii. EWMA with no cross terms. iii. modelling of variance covariance matrix, review, with speci- cation of the respective LL function: iv. direct: VEC GARCH, BEKK GARCH, v. indirect: CCC GARCH, DCC GARCH.
Martingale Pricing for derivative securities: (a) american options valuation: drift change and backward induction in the following models i. Cox, Ross, Rubinstein 1979 ii. Sick 1995 iii. Boyle, Evnine, Gibbs 1989 (b) european options valuation, in addiction to the preceding sub (a): i. derivation of Black e Scholes 1973 as a limit case for Cox, Ross, Rubinstein 1979; ii. Stultz 1982, Johnson 1987 rainbow options valuation, bivariate case programming in Aptech Gauss iii. Monte Carlo simulations for both univariate and multivariate cases;
Real Options (a) parallelism with decision tree analysis (b) martingale pricing viability for an irregular uncertainty resolution, multiperiod securities markets di Harrison e Kreps 1979 (c) differences and analogies between real and financial options d) most frequent real options, Mickey mouse examples i. option to wait; ii. option to expand/contract iii. option to mothball/restart iv. option to switch use v. option to abandon vi. option to default vii. operating default viii. financial default asset substitution moral hazard underinvestment moral hazard put call parity interpretation of bond holders equity holders wealth transfer (e) different approaches to real options valuations: (f) the general real options model of Kulatilaka-Trigeorgis: i. mickey mouse example ii. taxonomy of operating modes of an industrial plant Markov Chain states analogies; iii. binomial lattice Cox, Ross, Rubinstein 1979, Mickey Mouse example.
Least Squares Monte Carlo, Longstaff, Schwartz 2001 RFS: (a) general introduction to the model and comparison with Tsitsiklis Van Roy model; (b) american/bermudean put option valuation, example of Moreno Navas 2003 MF: (c) LSMC for the Kulatilaka Trigeorgis general real options model, Gamba 2011 JMF

Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors)

On successful completion of this course, the student should

have a thorough and deep knowledge of derivatives pricing models. In particular, he/she must be able to model any payoff of a simple and multiple underlying derivative. He/she must be able to provide a discrete time approximation of stochastic processes dealt with at lesson both in view of a lattice approximation and a Monte Carlo simulation. Finally, the student should be able to price any financial or real option within the stochastic processes and pricing algorithms provided in the course. In any case, she/he must be knowledgeable with the general themes of martingale pricing.
be able to use her/his programming skills in simple Excel spreadsheets and/or in high programming languages such as Gauss or MatLab, not only for financial models and algorithms dealt with at lesson but also for other similar problems.
have acquired general skills in the field of algorithms and applied programming for option pricing which enable him/her to make educated choices in a problem solving practice framework. To be specific, the student should be able set up Excel spreadsheets and/or high level language, GAUSS or MatLab, codes implementing univariate and multivariate lattice models, Monte Carlo Simulations as discrete time approximations of the stochastic processes deal with at lesson. Moreover, the student should be able to program univariate and multivariate underlying European Options Derivatives closed formulas. Finally, the student should be able to program backward induction algorithms both on a lattice and in a Monte Carlo simulation framework, Least Squares Monte Carlo, choosing the algorithm which suits best to the application (algorithm educated choice) The student should be able to apply methods mentioned above both to financial derivatives and to real options, Bellman's dynamic programming in a stochastic framework, impulse control.
be capable to give a presentation both in front of a general practitioners' audience and a more academic one about the models dealt within the course.
have acquired a method of study both thanks to a wide knowledge of the main streams in which financial modelling is evolving, theoretical continued learning, and a confident practice with respect to the main high level programming languages, GAUSS and MatLab, which are continually evolving, best practice continued learning.

Prerequisites and Learning Activities

Pre-Assessment Formal prerequisites are stated in the first module webpage, namely Numerical Analysis, Calculus, Stochastic Calculus, Mathematical Stastistics. Actual prerequisites are not assessed at the beginning of the course and they are considered as a given when tuning the teaching approach of finance topics. A good programming ability is required for the following applications: A) any spreadsheet, e.g. Excel, Calc; B) any matrix oriented language, e.g. MatLab, Gauss, Ox, Octave, Scilab. In the computer lab classes, Gauss will be used. Univariate and multivariate calculus is applied in most of the models. A solid background in probability theory is required. A good programming ability is required for the following applications: A) any spreadsheet, e.g. Excel, Calc; B) any matrix oriented language, e.g. MatLab, Gauss, Ox, Octave, Scilab. In the computer lab classes, Gauss will be used. Univariate and multivariate calculus is applied in most of the models. A solid background in probability theory is required.

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Formative Assessment The formative assessment of this course teaching and learning process is performed through class participation during lessons: students may be asked to answer questions about topics dealt with at lesson; students may ask instructor questions during lessons both about the very topic dealt with at lesson and about correlated topics they are particularly interested in. summary of previous week lessons: a student is randomly selected to sum up topics dealt with in the previous sessions, actually introducing extant session; short seminars: students are required to apply their skills in Calculus, Stochastic Calculus, Numerical Analysis and Mathematical Stastistics to specific problems in finance, proposing their own solutions previously prepared as homeworks. Summative Assessment The summative assessment of this course is performed through Written tests: administration: during the 60 hours semester module a mid term after roughly 30 hours and a final test at the end of the semester are given for students attending lessons; a comprehensive test is given in ordinary exam sessions for students not attending lessons and for attending students that do not pass mid term and final semester tests; aims and formative purposes students are evaluated with respect to three different dimensions of learning: Assessment of Testing method adopted Baseline theoretical knowledge provided through lessons and suggested reading list Open questions to be answered through short essays Problem solving involving simbolic calculus and stochastic calculus capabilities Questions about model building and algorithms tuning for specific formal problems Programming capabilities Small problems in class assignments to be programmed in a high level language, e.g. MatLab, Gauss, Ox, Scilab Evaluation criteria final numerical results achievement; style: in modelling – possibly new – solutions in a simbolic layout; in writing codes for extant models; in prose for short essays questions; Homeworks and take home projects: some compulsory homeworks are given on specific topics to let students delve into the subject at her/his own pace; some optional take home projects are suggested to students particularly interested in applying quantitative methods of their choice to finance problems. Oral exams: after achieving at least an average pass grade in written tests during the semester or, as an alternative, an equivalent valuation on a comprehensive written test in an ordinary exam session, students are required to take an oral exam made up of: questions about mistakes in written tests; one's choice topic question; Assessment breakdown Formative and Summative Assessment towards the definition of a final grade % weight on the final grade In class participation 5 Summary of previous week lessons 10 Short seminars (if given, else the weight is given to class participation) 5 In Class written tests 70 Home assignments (homeworks and take home projects) 5 Oral Exam 5

Textbooks

Thomas E. Copeland, J. Fred Weston, and Kuldeep Shastri, Financial Theory and Corporate Policy (4th Edition) , Addison-Wesley. 2005.
Luenberger, D., Investment Science , Oxford University Press. 1988.
John C. Hull, Options, Futures and Other Derivatives (6th edition) , Prentice Hall. 2005.

Course page updates

This course page is available (with possible updates) also for the following academic years:

To read the current information on this course, if it is still available, go to the university course catalogue .

Course information last updated on: 15 aprile 2015, 15:32